September 2009 Archives

Well, this is blog numero dos for my project! To update the world on my progress...

I met with Professor Rock last week to present my idea about working at Ever After Gowns...I was really really nervous, because frankly, I didn't know if she was going to take me and my "princess" idea seriously. Luckily though, she did! She was actually really excited for me to work with this place, the only concern being that I'll get enough hours to cover the project.  I emailed the person in charge of volunteers at EAG, and they have yet to get back to me. Still, I am pretty excited about this! And I have NEVER EVER really been psyched about volunteering before. NHS in high school was almost the death of me; I have no time.  I have a really good feeling about this though, and the social issues (impact of poverty on teens, and teenage self-esteem, specifically girl's) are something that I feel quite strongly about.  Hopefully God will use this agency to help soothe that vocation vacency ache that I've been feeling ever since I left camp. Prayers that this works out would be much appriciated!

By the way...the title and picture is from one of my favorite movies, 27 Dresses. Hopefully I won't encounter TOO many horrible, hideous dresses during my time with EAG...

To be honest, I am kind of lost with the whole project thing. I don't know what to do or where to go.  I have no vehicle to get around the cities with, and I'm a little more than trepidated about the public transportation system.

As I thought about it a little bit more though, I have something that over-rides every single one of my worries: my passion.  God has placed in my heart a passion for working with middle and high school students. I enjoy working with children of all ages, but it is with the older set that my skills lie.  I have always felt like God was calling me to work with kids, but I did not realize the depth of this calling until after working at camp all summer. It was extremely hard for me to be pulled away from my vocation. Hopefully God will lead me to some place where this ache and longing to fullfil my vocation can be soothed somewhat. 

Like I said earlier, I haven't really had any particular place in mind to work.  However, last night I came across an organization in the Twin Cities called Ever After Gowns.  This non-profit organization collectes and dry cleans old prom gowns for under-privilaged teenage girls.  A lot of the girls the go through the program come from poor and violent backgrounds, and may not get to have a lot of times in their life where they are able to feel like a princess.  Ever After seeks to change that. In the spring they set up a "botique" with all of the gowns they have collected throughout the year, and assign each girl that qualifies to a personal shopper, who helps them through the dress-choosing process, the make-up and hair stations, and finding the perfect pair of shoes.  I have no idea how or if I'll even be able to work with this organization at all, but I got so excited while looking through the website.  Low self-esteem is oftentime a really big issue with teenage girls, no more so than around prom time. Although it may seem silly to some people, getting dressed up in a pretty gown, being pampered, and being made to feel like a princess does wonders for a teenage girl's self esteem; because of Ever After, many Twin Cities girls who would never get this opportunity are now able to.  I would absolutely love to make a difference in a girl's life, and make their dreams seem a little bit closer to them.

Although I know that this isn't the most "traditional" idea, or that it might not work out, I am still excited about it nonetheless. And if it turns out that God needs my gifts at PLUS Time (my second choice) more, then so be it. That's kinda where my project is as of right now.